Blessed when I don't see but believe

Recently there have been some programs on NatGeo and in the news that have called into question the accounts of Jesus' birth and of King David's reign and kingdom.

Did his birth really happen in December?
How big was King David's actual kingdom?

Prior to becoming a Christ follower, I did a little research into a few different religions and I came across a 2 volume set called "Evidence that Demands A Verdict". What I remember from those books is that what cannot be called into question are the extra-biblical accounts that a man named Christ lived and was crucified under the reign of Pontus Pilot and that he had a ton of followers, who, to this day, proclaim His basic tenants of faith, all of which affirms the Biblical accounts.

As years go by, various artifacts and remains of antiquity continue to be found and only serve to strengthen Biblical accounts. But what I find fascinating as a Christ follower today is that for some reason, I'm not shaken by these reports on NatGeo and the 5 o'clock news. I mean, scientists had to downgrade a planet a few years ago, one I was convinced existed in planetarian form all of my growing up years, for crying out loud!! So Scientists get new information, "Scientific facts" are changed too. I trust scientific work (most of the time) until the next report comes out! People can't make up their mind if coffee is good or bad for you and both have a long list of reasons supporting their argument. I find it all quite interesting!

I love evidence, research and facts. I planned to go to law school and be a lawyer, until I came to my senses! But seriously, I'm not downplaying the need for apologetics in Biblical Faith. I absolutely love it. Ravi Zacharias is an author and speaker who is one of my favorite men to listen to. What I am raising as just as important is the very real and powerful impact of the living God working in the human heart. Of this I have no doubt. This heart has been absolutely transformed and continues to undergo surgery almost every day under the gentle but powerful hands of her creator and Lord, Jesus Christ.

And Jesus, who was either a liar, lunatic or the LORD (if you read in "Evidence that Demands A Verdict", the author brings this forth in a thought provoking way), said, "Blessed are those who believe but have not yet seen." No, not yet have I seen the face of God. And yet, I have. I've seen His miracles in my life and I've evidenced His power.

So if I find out, through various sources that he was actually born in April instead of December, who cares? The point is - He was born. What are we going to do about it? All the words He spoke were weighty and penetrate the soul. They require a response. Maybe that's why scholars work so hard to find something that would mar or taint this man or other Biblical accounts. Then no response is required if it's all a load of crock. And Yet, He claimed He wants to be LORD of your heart. Either that or He is a liar, a lunatic? So He was born, whether in April or December, it may not be fully clear. Whether a cave or a house manger is not clear either. But He was born. He was born and now I live - I've felt and seen His powerful love transform and mold my hard heart.

And as for me and the rest of my days, I want to continue to respond. Yes, I want to hear and observe the reports, research the facts and look at the evidence. But I also want Him to continue to change my heart. Forever grateful that He already has and will continue to work in me until I see Him face to face. Until then, "blessed are you who have not seen and yet believe."

http://www.crosswalk.com/who-is-jesus/

Make us holy more than happy

In Gary Thomas' Sacred Marriage, he writes:

"What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy? … Marriage calls us to an entirely new and selfless life … Whether it is delightful or difficult, your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God, and to a spiritual integrity that, like salt, seasons the world around you with the savor of Christ."

That's my prayer in marriage - that James and I will enjoy a closer walk with the Lord together and cultivate a spiritual integrity in our lives that seasons the world around us.

And as every good Catholic knows how to pray "Lord, here our prayer. Amen :)"

Leave and Cleave

For several years, I've had the opportunity to perfect personal independence. I've had a massive amount of liberty to do what I want, to come and go with guidance from God....but as I please.

That being said, I've also had the opportunity to learn how to live in community, in the tandem of doing life with other like-minded people who choose to hold one another accountable and forsake some natural freedoms for the sake of cultivating authentic, Christ-centered relationships.

Although our American culture breeds fierce independence, I'm convinced there is a way to remain interdependent within relationships .....and one way includes the marriage relationship.

When you are single, you can be devoted in community and still hold onto the liberty to pick and choose to what level of intimacy and vulnerability you remain engaged in. I guess you can do that in marriage too, but wouldn't you be miserable? I'm not saying that's good or bad. It is what it is. But in the crux of living where independence meets interdependence, I'm thinkin' the marriage relationship is the epitome of learning humility and authentic love.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined (cleave) to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

One flesh. Hmmmm. That's a significant blow to personal independence. What happens when a man and woman come together in marriage? Obviously we know how babies are made but what I mean is this.....Is marriage just a functional union or is there something much more dynamic taking place behind closed doors? Something spiritual, like a baptism in character development with the closest human being to you? Well, what happens to some of that independence is obvious. You're now living in tandem with one other flawed, very "human" human being who has just as many needs, desires, flaws and strengths as you do. Selfishness probably shows its ugly head when you least expect it and learning to live in authentic love becomes part of the life journey.

Honestly, I'm excited about that! I'm excited about joining my life to one man for a lifetime. I'm sure it's bound to have it's challenges but what about the joys and the blessings of that intimate companionship? What about two individuals who desire to love and honor God together? I think it will be a beautiful thing in the midst of being a sudden blow to independence...So I'm excited to find out how to do it with the love of my life.

A tender heart

CS Lewis said it well....

"Give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."

And it was penned by the authors of Scripture to keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the abundance of life.

A few weeks ago when James and I were praying, He prayed for a tender heart. Over the past few weeks I've thought about the state of my heart and how I echo that prayer with him. A heart that is capable of being penetrated, broken, changed by grace is ultimately a heart that is capable of being redeemed. The God of the Universe was humble enough to get His heart broken for the healing of the world and He can keep my heart close to His and redeem me from this world's affect on my life and my heart. He can keep my heart but I have to give it to Him again and again, no matter what I go through in this life. He is bigger than my heart and all it's emotions too.